From the books

Stories from the Series

Every Target Species title is a practical field guide: the right gear, proven waters across the USA, species biology, tips and tactics, and hard-won wisdom from anglers who came before us. Each book also includes one wholesome fictional story — and that story is what we share here, one species at a time, until the whole collection has had its turn.

New stories are available every Monday and Friday.

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  1. Pumpkinseed — The Bucket List Sunfish

    Pumpkinseed – The Bucket List Sunfish: A Solo Angler, a Quiet Lake, and the Quest for a True Pumpkinseed Giant (Fiction)

    Dawn crept gently across the glassy surface of Eagle Mirror Lake, painting faint gold on the ripples and sending a hush over the shoreline reeds.
  2. Tiger Trout — The Tournament at Blue Mesa

    Tiger Trout – The Tournament at Blue Mesa: Friendly Rivalries and Tiger Trout Triumph in a Colorado Derby

    The crisp dawn over Blue Mesa Reservoir was alive with expectation as anglers gathered for the annual Tiger Trout Derby.
  3. Atlantic Pollock — The Captain’s Challenge

    Atlantic Pollock – The Captain’s Challenge: A Charter, a First-Timer, and the Deep Pull of Pollock

    A thin gray dawn crept over Gloucester Harbor as Captain Miles Connor checked his gear for the third time, boots echoing against the deck of the Sea Venture.
  4. Northern Pike — Pike Fever at Lake of the Woods

    Northern Pike – Pike Fever at Lake of the Woods: A Fictional Tournament Tale of Triumph and Tenacity

    The sun crept above the horizon, scattering gold across the glassy water of Minnesota’s Lake of the Woods.
  5. Flathead Catfish — The Rivalry at Muddy Bend

    Flathead Catfish – The Rivalry at Muddy Bend: A tournament showdown reveals the true spirit of flathead fishing.

    Dawn crept over the riverbanks as anglers gathered at Muddy Bend, a storied stretch of the Missouri River known for deep holes and legendary flathead catfish.
  6. Chain Pickerel — The Soloist in the Pines

    Chain Pickerel – The Soloist in the Pines: A Solo Pickerel Quest and Waterside Awakening

    Cool dawn mist rolled over the tannin-stained waters of Pine Needle Lake, softening the world into silence except for a red-winged blackbird’s call.
  7. Gafftopsail Catfish — The Pier Derby: Rivalry, Rain, and Redemption

    Gafftopsail Catfish – The Pier Derby: Rivalry, Rain, and Redemption: A Fictional Tale of Friendly Competition and Gafftopsail Glory

    On the battered wooden boards of Bayview Pier, the annual Gafftopsail Catfish Derby was more than just a contest—it was the heartbeat of the coastal town.
  8. Swordfish — Derby Day at Hudson Canyon

    Swordfish – Derby Day at Hudson Canyon: A Tournament Tale of Rivalry and Redemption

    Dawn broke over the Atlantic with a pale golden light, streaking across the deck of the Sea Eagle as she nosed out of Montauk harbor.
  9. Alligator Gar — The Rivalry at Willow Bend

    Alligator Gar – The Rivalry at Willow Bend: Fiction: Rivals, Redemption, and the River’s Lesson

    Dawn drifted over the Trinity River, painting the willows and mud banks in a soft gold haze.
  10. Northern Snakehead — The Rivalry on Mattawoman Creek

    Northern Snakehead – The Rivalry on Mattawoman Creek: A Tournament Tale of Snakehead, Sportsmanship, and Second Chances

    Mist clung to the marsh as anglers gathered at the launch ramp, their breath mixing with dawn’s chill and anticipation.